Summary & Overview
HCPCS A9512: Technetium tc-99m Pertechnetate, Diagnostic
HCPCS Level II code A9512 represents technetium tc-99m pertechnetate billed per millicurie for diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging. As a radiopharmaceutical supply code, it is used nationally in hospital outpatient departments, nuclear medicine clinics, and radiology centers to capture the cost and use of the radioactive tracer in procedures such as thyroid scans and certain gastrointestinal or renal imaging studies. The code matters because radiopharmaceutical supply charges are a common component of imaging episodes and can affect facility pricing, payer coverage determinations, and billing clarity for diagnostic nuclear medicine.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of what the code represents, the typical clinical contexts where the agent is used, and the service settings where charges are commonly recorded. The publication summarizes benchmarking approaches, common billing modifiers and administrative considerations, and where to look for policy or coverage guidance. Data availability is summarized; where input data are not provided, those items are noted as not available in the input. The content is intended for billing managers, revenue cycle staff, and clinical leaders seeking a national view of how a radiopharmaceutical supply code is classified and used.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code A9512 denotes Technetium tc-99m pertechnetate, diagnostic, per millicurie. This supply-level code represents the radioactive diagnostic agent used in nuclear medicine imaging procedures where technetium-99m pertechnetate is indicated.
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Service type: Diagnostic radiopharmaceutical supply for nuclear medicine imaging
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Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient departments, nuclear medicine clinics, and radiology centers where radiopharmaceuticals are prepared and administered for diagnostic imaging
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult referred to nuclear medicine for a diagnostic thyroid scan using Technetium Tc-99m Pertechnetate to evaluate focal thyroid nodules, hyperthyroidism, or ectopic thyroid tissue. The patient arrives fasting for a morning appointment; a brief history is obtained focusing on recent iodine exposure, thyroid medications, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. The radiopharmacy dispenses Technetium Tc-99m Pertechnetate by millicurie units documented for dose-based billing under A9512. A nuclear medicine technologist or radiology nurse administers the radiotracer intravenously or, in some protocols, via iv bolus; uptake typically imaged 20–30 minutes post-injection with a gamma camera. Images are acquired by a nuclear medicine technologist and interpreted by a nuclear medicine physician or radiologist with nuclear medicine training. The final report documents the administered activity, imaging findings (cold/warm/hot nodules, diffuse uptake patterns), correlation with thyroid function tests, and any incidental findings. Typical sites of service are outpatient hospital-based nuclear medicine departments, freestanding imaging centers with radiopharmacy services, and inpatient hospital imaging suites when performed for in-hospital patients.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
JW |